Leeds City Council purchased three brand-new, all-electric Mercedes-Benz eEconic chassis with Faun Zoeller UK 22 m³ Variopress compactor bodies and Rotary 3 bin lifts.
In 2019, the UK government declared a climate emergency, underscoring the need for immediate action worldwide. As part of its response, Leeds City Council has helped boost its electric fleet to just under 400 vehicles, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. This eco-friendly decision was a significant choice, given the numerous options and limited infrastructure available; however, after trialling other vehicles from FZUK, Andrew Mackman, Support Team Leader at Leeds City Council, provided feedback on how the drivers have been experiencing the new electric RCVs. ‘The drivers like driving them, saying they handle very smoothly, come with nice equipment and an easy-to-use setup.’
Andrew shared his thoughts on how the EVs have been performing, ‘Initially, there were a few teething issues, which is to be expected in any new vehicles, but probably more so with the EVs. Since these issues have been resolved, the vehicles are performing very well. There are no issues with charging times. The crews return in the early afternoon, and the trucks are put on charge for the next day.’
FZUK will continue to help push for a cleaner planet by working towards achieving zero-emission targets. The use of councils acquiring these vehicles will further boost these factors by having a positive impact on local communities, such as trucks collecting rubbish outside key areas, including schools, homes, and workplaces.
